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South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has ordered a swift and thorough investigation into a landmine explosion in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that injured three South Korean soldiers last week, Yonhap News Agency reported.
Speaking at a Cabinet meeting at the Blue House on Tuesday, Lee said the military must establish the facts in close cooperation with the UN Command. Preliminary military findings released a day earlier indicated that a North Korean landmine was highly likely to have caused the blast.
“The military authorities must transparently reveal the truth behind the case by carrying out a swift and thorough investigation in close cooperation with the UN Command,” Lee said.
“In accordance with that truth, we will take necessary measures,” he added.
Blast occurred during route-clearing operation
The explosion took place on Sept. 21 as troops were clearing a route for a joint South Korean military and UN Command inspection into suspected North Korean mine-laying activities south of the Military Demarcation Line.
Two soldiers suffered serious injuries, while a third sustained minor injuries.
Lee also warned against spreading “groundless conspiracy theories” about the incident, saying national security should not become a partisan issue.
South Korea to strengthen defence capabilities
The president called for stronger self-reliant defence capabilities based on advanced weapons. He also ordered efforts to develop nuclear-powered submarines and hypersonic missiles to be accelerated.
Separately, Lee instructed officials to turn the results of his recent visits to the United States and Mexico into tangible national benefits. He pledged to prioritise housing, employment and financial services for low-income households.
